Convertible cane and seat



Sept. 28, 1954 J. WENTZ CONVERTIBLE CANE AND SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1954 INVENTOR. J 'PE [1. Wa-wrz HTTOPNEY P 23, 1954 J. WENTZ CONVERTIBLE CANE AND SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2. 1954 INVENTOR. WENTZ HTTOENEY I Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jere L. Wentz, Passaic, N, J. Application February 2, 1954, Serial No. 407,767

1. My invention relates to an interconvertible cane and seat, examples of prior art devices being disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,218,357; 1,379,129; 1,697,552; 1,704,683 and 1,863,457.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an interconvertible cane and seat wherein the seat may be easily employed for relaxing and resting a person during viewing of various outdoor activities and sports, for instance, golf matches, and wherein the cane is readily utilizable as a Walking stick or the like during hiking and may be conveniently carried when not in use, for example, within a golf bag.

Another object of my invention is to provide an interconvertible cane and seat which may be readily converted from a cane to a seat and vice versa with a minimum of effort and without the use of additional parts .or components.

A further object of my invention is to provide an interconvertible cane and seat which is simple in construction, durable and eflicient in use, economical in manufacture and of a pleasing and attractive appearance.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings from which the several features of the'invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in section, of my invention and illustrating the same for use as a cane or the like.

Figure 2 is .a detail sectional view illustrating the connection of a pair of the sections of the cane. I

Figure .3 isa detail sectional view illustrating the .means vfor adjusting the height of the cane or seat above the ground.

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of my invention and illustrating the same arranged foruse as a seat.

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatica'l view illustrating the use of the seat.

Figure 6 is an elevation of amodified form of cane.

Figure'7 'is a'view of the modification illustrating the same arranged for use as .a' seat.

Figure *8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the connection between a pair of the sections.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional "view "illustrating 7 Claims. (01. 155-135) a modified form of means for adjusting the height of the cane or seat with respect to the ground.

' In practicing my invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, I provide a stafi equipped with telescopic upper and lower tubular sections 5 and 6, respectively, with the upper portion of the lower section 6 being disposed within the lower portion of the upper section 5. The upper end of the lower portion is provided with a threaded member I 'detac'hably threaded within a threaded socket or opening 8 formed within a block 9 fixed :within the upper section 5 intermediate its ends. The block 9 also formed with a threaded opening or socket Ill extending in right-angular relation to the axis of the section '5 and in registry with an opening H formed in the peripherial wall of the section .5.

The lower end of'the section B has fixed thereto a ferrule '12 in which. is threaded a radially extending set-screw l3 formed with a socket M for receiving the end of a wrench or tool I5, the latter being normally carried within the upper end of the section 5 by being attached to a boss l-G threaded into the upper end and constituting a part of a decorative ball H or the like closing the upper end of the section '5. Extending within the lower portion of the section ii is a rod or shaft l8 held in adjusted relation therein by means of theset-screw 1'3.

The lower end portion of the rod I8 is provided with a ground-engaging disc or collar [9 for engaging the ground and limiting penetration of the lower end of the rod within the ground as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. Ijhe lower end of .the section -5 is slightly contracted, as .at 20, for engagement with the section 5 and coacts with the member .1 and block 9 to lend rigidity to the structure when the member 1 is connected within the opening ,8 of the block.

By disen aging the member '1 from the block 9 and removing the section 6 from within the section 5, the latter may be disposed in transverse relation to the section ,6 to permit the member 7 to be threaded within the socket H) of the block, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4, to thus provide the seat, whereby a person may dispose his haunches thereon and thus assume a sitting position with the aid of his feet, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 5. By removing the tool i5 from the end of the section '5, and inserting the same within the socket 14 of the set-screw l3, the latter may be manipulated to permit adjustment of the rod relative 3 to the section 6 and thus vary the height of the section 5 relative to the ground, as depicted in dotted lines in Figure 4.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings, the upper section 25 is formed with a cylindriform upper portion 26 and a semi-cylindrical lower portion 21 and has interiorly fixed therein, at the jointure of said portions 26 and 2'1, a hinge block 23 having an outwardly disposed bifurcated end 29 between the bifurcations of which is pivoted, by means of a pin 30, a hinge member 3| provided on the upper end of the lower section 32. The upper portion 26 of the lower section 32 is equipped with an elongated fiber sleeve 33 having suificient frictional engagement with the side margins 34 of the portion 21 to normally maintain the sections 25 and 32 in axial alignment when so arranged to constitute the cane, as shown in Figure 6.

The portion 2i embraces slightly more than half the circumference of the sleeve 33 whereby to necessitate a slight expansion of the margins 34 of the portion 21 when the section 32 is pivotly out of axiality with the section 25 to dispose the same in transverse relation therewith to form a seat as clearly illustrated in Figure 7. Shoulders 35 are provided on the upper end of the section 32, subjacent the member 3!, for engagement with the side faces of the bifurcations 29 to auxiliate the support of the upper section 25 by the pin (it and permit the upper portion 26 to assume a greater load, or" a person sitting on the upper section, than the portion 2?, it being noted that the portion 26 is of a greater length than the portion 21. The lower section 32, adjacent its lower end, is equipped with a ground-engaging disc or collar 31' to limit penetration of the section 32 into the ground. However, it is to be understood that the lower section 32 may be equipped with suitable adjusting means of the character disclosed in connection with the invention disclosed in Figures l to 5, inclusive.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the upper section 4E) has mounted therein, to form the cane, the lower section ll in somewhat the same manner as disclosed in Figure 1. However, the lower section has its lower end portion interiorly threaded for receiving therein the threaded upper end 42 of a rod or shaft 53, the lower end of the latter being equipped with a ground-engaging collar or disc dd. By rotating the rod 43, the same may be raised or lowered relative to the section M to vary the height of the section ll] relative to the ground thereby permitting the cane and seat to be adjusted with respect to height.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined solely to the use herein disclosed in connection therewith as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles involved which are capable of extended applica-- tion in various forms, and the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an interconvertible cane and seat construction, a staff provided with detachable sections connected together to constitute a cane, one of said sections provided with connecting means between its ends, a second section provided with connection means detachably connected to and within the confines of said one section to form said cane, said means of each section being connectable together upon detachment of said sections and dispositions of said one section at right angles to said second section whereby said sections cooperate to constitute a seat.

2. In an interconvertible cane and seat construction, a staff provided with telescopic sections connected together in fixed axiality to constitute a cane and having one of its sections removable and formed, between its ends, with a threaded socket extending right-angularly with respect to the axis of said one section, a second section having a threaded end portion threadedly connected to and within the confines of said one section to form said cane, said sections being detachable to thread said portion into said socket upon disposition of said one section at right angles to said second section whereby said sections cooperate to constitute a seat.

3. In an interconvertible cane and seat construction, a staff provided with telescopic sections connected together in fixed axiality to constitute a cane and having one of its sections removable and formed, between its ends, With a threaded socket extending right-angularly with respect to the axis of said one section, a second section having a threaded end portion threadedly connected to and within the confines of said one section to form said cane, said sections being detachable to thread said portion into said socket upon disposition of said one section at right angles to said second section whereby said sections cooperat to constitute a seat, said second section bein pro vided with a ground engaging portion adjustable relative to said sections to regulate the height above the ground of said one section.

4. In a construction of the class described, a staff having upper and lower sections with said lower section having upper and lower portions, said upper section having an upper portion and a lower portion embracing said upper portion of said lower section to disposesaid sections in axial relation to form a cane, connecting means fixed to said upper section between its upper and lower portions, connecting means carried by said upper portion of said lower section and connecting said sections together and operable to permit relative shifting of said sections, said lower section being shiftable from within said lower portion of said upper section to dispose said lower section in substantiall right-angular relation to said upper section to form a seat.

5. In a construction of the class described, a staff having upper and lower sections with said lower section having upper and lower portions, said upper section having an upper portion and a lower portion embracing said upper portion of said lower section to dispose said sections in axial relation to form a cane, hinge means fixed to said upper section between its upper and lower portions and connected to said lower section to secure said sections in connected relation, said lower section being pivotable out of the confines of said lower portion of said upper section to dispose said lower section in substantially right-angular relation to said upper section to form a seat.

6. In a construction of the class described, a

staff having upper and lower sections with said lower section having upper and lower portions, said upper section having an upper portion and a lower portion embracing said upper portion of said lower section to dispose said sections in axial relation to form a cane, a hinge arranged between said upper and lower portions of said upper section and connecting said sections together, said lower section being hinged from within said lower portion of said upper section to dispose said upper section crosswise of said lower section to form a seat, a ground-engaging member adjustably carried by said lower section for varying the height of said upper section relative to the ground.

7. In an interconvertible cane and seat construction, a stafi provided with elongated sections connected together in axiality to constitute a cane and having one of said sections shiftable in crosswise and connected relation to and at the end of the other section to form a seat, and securing means connecting said sections together and op- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 504,326 Chapman Sept. 5, 1893 1,218,357 Bauer Mar. 6, 1917 1,379,129 Sejnoha May 24, 1921 1,697,552 Brooks Jan. 1, 1929 1,704,683 Buz Mar. 5, 1929 1,828,144 Jasinski Oct. 20, 1931 1,863,457 Stevens June 14, 1932 

